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November 27, 2008

Nov 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving. I woke up this morning saying those words to myself. Happy Thanksgiving. Happy Thanksgiving. It was a day to be grateful, and that was what I was planning to be all day — focusing only on all the things in my life that were wonderful, giving no energy to the more complicated things. Out of gratitude comes possibility. Out of gratitude comes joy.

So, before I did anything else on this Thanksgiving morning 2008, I looked out the bedroom window at the streets below, and said a prayer of gratitude for my daughter Lili, for my nephew Jackson — for their health and their happiness — and for the wonderful people that made up our life together. I said a prayer of gratitude that we were safe in our home with Kerry, that we were protected from the cold weather outside: and that we were going to have a wonderful Thanksgiving supper over at Annie's. I said a prayer of gratitude that Jeb was safe, and a prayer of gratitude that his situation seemed to be improving.

And, I said a prayer of gratitude for Sam, who first and foremost had proved himself to be the dearest friend I could ever ask for. Whatever we were ultimately going to be to each other and for each other, I said a prayer of gratitude that we were coming from that good and generous place together.

Then, I checked on Lili, and went into the kitchen and got my first great Thanksgiving surprise. Kerry and Jackson were standing by the stove making an enormous breakfast for us.

I looked at the beautifully set table complete with flowers in the middle of it (flowers that looked like they were from the corner deli, but still! They had gotten flowers.).

I smiled at Kerry, reaching in to give Jackson a hug. "Sounds like a perfect plan to me," I said.

Then, a few minutes later, I got my second Thanksgiving surprise.

I heard a knock on the door, and when I went to open it, I saw a delivery guy on the other side, holding a huge bouquet of flowers (these ones definitely not from the corner deli!). They were in a large vase: white lilies, a completely stunning array of them.

I took the flowers from the deliveryman.

"Happy Thanksgiving," I said.

He smiled. "You too."

I put the flowers down, and went to the counter and opened the small gift card. It was short and cleanly written, with handwriting that I recognized right away. Josh's handwriting. He had written the card himself.

This was what it said:

Dear Liz,

Here are beautiful lilies for Lili. Have a good Thanksgiving, and holiday weekend, and we'll talk early next week.

Josh

It was a start: It was something at least, I decided. And I would take that.

I smelled the flowers and went to put them in the nursery for Lili, her first present from her father.

"These are from your Dad," I told her.

Then I went to get dressed and ready for the rest of the day with my family.

Happy Thanksgiving.

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